ROCK PICKER

RAMASSEUSE DE PIERRES

English Abstract

The present invention is a device that is mounted on loaders or
tractors for picking and separating rocks from soil admixtures. Rocks are
separated as the vehicle forwardly advances through a grate into a bucket.
Material is swept directly into a bucket or into the bucket attached to a
pivotally mounted carriage by action of a hydraulically driven reel that
produces a grappling action between the bucket and carriage. Larger rocks
are gathered in this embodiment independent of the reel and sweep by
opening the mouth of the attachment and picking the rock by grapple or
claim action.

French Abstract

Dispositif monté sur une chargeuse ou un tracteur pour ramasser et séparer les pierres des mélanges de sol. Les pierres sont dirigées d'une grille vers un godet pendant que le véhicule avance. Le matériau est poussé directement dans un godet ou dans un godet fixé à un chariot pivotant au moyen d'un rabatteur à entraînement hydraulique qui accroche le matériau entre le godet et le chariot. Les plus grosses pierres sont rassemblées dans cette utilisation indépendamment du rabatteur et sont poussées en ouvrant l'embouchure du dispositif qui les ramasse par accrochage.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A rock picking apparatus that removably attaches to a front end of a primary
moving vehicle, comprising:
a forward dumping bucket including a back plate adapted for attachment to
the front end of the vehicle, a base plate spaced from the back plate, a pair of side plates
connected to the back plate and the base plate, and a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated
steel bars extending in a substantially horizontal plane between the base plate and the back
plate;
the back plate, the base plate, the pair of side plates, and the steel bars
defining a bucket storage area which is closed at a rear end thereof by the back plate and
which is open at a front end thereof;
a plurality of angled grate forks attached to a centre support member
mounted on the base plate, said grate forks being angled so as to extend in a direction
generally toward the back plate of the bucket, and said centre support member being
configured so as to form a raised ridge upon a base plate;
a rotating reel rotationally supported by, and extending between, the pair of
side plates, the rotating reel including a tooth mounting bracket having a plurality of teeth
attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom; and
drive means connected to the reel for rotating the reel.

2. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotating reel
further includes angle leg members disposed at opposite ends of the tooth mounting
bracket.

3. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 2, further including a mounting
pin extending from each angle leg member, each said side plate including a mounting pin
opening which receives a respective one of said mounting pins, said mounting pins being
secured by a mounting pin clamp bolted to each said side plate.




13



4. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said drive means
comprises a hydraulic motor connected to a rear sprocket wheel, a front sprocket wheel
fixedly attached to one of said mounting pins, and a chain looped around the rear sprocket
wheel and the front sprocket wheel.

5. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said teeth are offset
from said grate forks so that the teeth pass between the grate forks when the reel is rotated.

6. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a
protective operating shield attached to the bucket for protecting an operator of the primary
moving vehicle.

7. A rock picking apparatus that removably attaches to a front end of a primary
moving vehicle, comprising:
a forward dumping bucket including a back plate adapted for attachment to
the front end of the vehicle, a base plate spaced from the back plate, a pair of side plates
connected to the back plate and the base plate, and a plurality of spaced, parallel elongated
steel bars extending in a substantially horizontal plane between the base plate and the back
plate;
the back plate, the base plate, the pair of side plates, and the steel bars
defining a bucket storage area which is closed at a rear end thereof by the back plate and
which is open at a front end thereof;
a carriage pivotally attached to an upper bracket which is mounted at an
upper end of the bucket such that said carriage is able to pivot between open and closed
positions relative to the bucket, the carriage including a pair of side walls spaced from each
other by a back wall and a base bracket extending between the side walls;
a plurality of angled grate forks attached to the base bracket and extending
in a direction generally toward the back plate of the bucket when the carriage is in the
closed position;

14



a rotating reel rotationally supported by, and extending between, the pair of
side walls, the rotating reel including at least one tooth mounting bracket having a plurality
of teeth attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom;
hydraulic means connected to the bucket and the carriage for actuating the
carriage between the open and the closed positions; and
drive means connected to the reel for rotating the reel.

8. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said reel includes a
centre shaft portion and at least one cross bar integrally connected to the centre shaft
portion and supporting the at least one tooth mounting bracket.

9. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 8, further including a mounting
pin extending from each end of said centre shaft portion, each said side wall of the carriage
including a mounting pin opening which receives a respective one of said mounting pins,
said mounting pins being secured by a mounting pin clamp bolted to each said side wall.

10. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said drive means
comprises a hydraulic motor attached to a rear sprocket wheel, a front sprocket wheel
fixedly attached to one of said mounting pins, and a chain looped around the rear sprocket
wheel and the front sprocket wheel.

11. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the rotating reel
includes an additional tooth mounting bracket having a plurality of teeth attached thereto
and projecting outwardly therefrom.

12. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said teeth are offsetfrom said grate forks so that the teeth pass between the grate forks when the reel is rotated.









13. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising at least
one base support attached to, and extending between, said base plate and said back plate
for strengthening the bucket.

14. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the upper bracket
includes a pair of up-turned ends and said carriage includes a pair of carriage arms adjacent
said up-turned ends, and locking bolts pivotally connecting the up-turned ends and the
carriage arms thus permitting pivoting of the carriage relative to the bucket.

15. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said hydraulic means
comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a turnbuckle assembly at a first end thereof
connected to a mounting bracket on one of said side plates and having a turnbuckle
assembly at a second end thereof connected to a mounting bracket on one of said side
walls.

16. A rock picking apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality
of support braces extending between the side walls and the back wall.

17. A rock picking apparatus that removably attaches to a front end of a primary
moving vehicle, comprising:
a forward dumping bucket including a back plate adapted for attachment to
the front end of the vehicle, a base plate spaced from the back plate, a pair of side plates
connected to the back plate and the base plate, and a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated
steel bars extending in a substantially horizontal plane between the base plate and the back
plate;
the back plate, the base plate, the pair of side plates, and the steel bars
defining a bucket storage area which is closed at a rear end thereof by the back plate and
which is open at a front end thereof;
a plurality of angled grate forks attached to a centre support member
mounted on the base plate, said grate forks being angled so as to extend in a direction


16




generally toward the back plate of the bucket, and said centre support member being
configured so as to form a raised ridge upon the base plate;
a rotating reel rotationally supported by, and extending between, the pair of
side plates, the rotating reel including a tooth mounting bracket having a plurality of teeth
attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom and angle leg members disposed at
opposite ends of the tooth mounting bracket, said teeth being offset from said grate forks
so that the teeth pass between the grate forks when the reel rotates, and a mounting pin
extending from each angle leg member, each said side plate including a mounting pin
opening which receives a respective one of said mounting pins, said mounting pins being
secured by a mounting pin clamp bolted to each said side plate;
reversible drive means connected to the reel for rotating the reel, said drive
means comprising a reversible hydraulic motor attached to a rear sprocket wheel, a front
sprocket wheel fixedly attached to one of said mounting pins, and a chain looped around
the rear sprocket wheel and the front sprocket wheel; and
a protective operating shield attached to the bucket for protecting an operator
of the primary moving vehicle.

18. A rock picking apparatus that removably attaches to a front end of a primarymoving vehicle, comprising:
a forward dumping bucket including a back plate adapted for attachment to
the front end of the vehicle, a base plate spaced from the back plate, a pair of side plates
connected to the back plate and the base plate, and a plurality of spaced, parallel, elongated
steel bars extending in a substantially horizontal plane between the base plate and the back
plate;
the back plate, the base plate, the pair of side plates, and the steel bars
defining a bucket storage area which is closed a rear end thereof by the back plate and
which is open at a front end thereof;
a carriage pivotally attached to a bracket which is mounted at an upper end
of the bucket for pivoting movements between open and closed positions relative to the




17



bucket, the carriage including a pair of side walls spaced from each other by a back wall
and a base bracket extending between the side walls;
a plurality of angled grate forks attached to the base bracket and extending
in a direction generally toward the back plate of the bucket when the carriage is in the
closed position;
a rotating reel rotationally supported by, and extending between, the pair of
side walls, the rotating reel including a centre shaft portion, at least one cross bar integrally
connected to the centre shaft portion and supporting at least one tooth mounting bracket,
said at least one tooth mounting bracket having a plurality of teeth attached thereto and
projecting outwardly therefrom, said teeth being offset from said grate forks so that the
teeth pass between the grate forks when the reel is rotated;
a mounting pin extending from each end of said centre shaft portion, each
said side wall of the carriage including a mounting pin opening which receives a respective
one of said mounting pins, said mounting pins being secured by a mounting pin clamp
bolted to each said side wall;
lifting means connected to the bucket and the carriage for actuating the
carriage between the open and the closed positions, said lifting means comprising a
turnbuckle assembly at a first end thereof connected to a mounting bracket on one of said
side plates and having a turnbuckle assembly at a second end thereof connected to a
mounting bracket on one of said side walls; and
reversible drive means connected to the reel for rotating the reel, said
reversible drive means attached to a rear sprocket wheel, a front sprocket wheel fixedly
attached to one of said mounting pins, and a chain looped around the rear sprocket wheel
and the front sprocket wheel.



18

Description

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ROCK PICKER


FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to a device for picking and separating rocks from admixtures
of soil and ruble. Particularly the invention is an attachment for loaders or tractors that
utilizes a bucket together with a reel and sweep member to separate rocks from other
5 material through a grate. The invention can utilize grapple and claim action by using a
hydraulically controlled carriage in addition to the bucket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Prior related art includes some devices used to separate trash from sand. These
10 apparatuses filter sand through a grate or grid as the machine or attachment advances
forward. These devices are used often to clean beaches. They are, however, not well
suited to separating large rocks from other material.
Buckets of various kinds have long been used to move dirt and rocks. Clamshell
or grab buckets are well known. United States patent No. 4,928,410 issued to WALTERS
et al on May 19, 1990 discloses a reversible clam-shell bucket that can be opened to
alternately grasp or push large objects depending on the position of the arm. The device
does not use a bucket, however, when used to grasp large objects such as rocks. This
limits the quantity of rocks that could be picked up at one time. The device also does not
use a secondary means like the reel and sweep action of the present invention to gather
20 rocks and soil more effectively and efficiently while forwardly advancing.
United States patent No. 4,059,886 issued to BRICON on November 29, 1977
shows a grab bucket attachment including two scoop bowls attached to a hydraulically
actuating cylinder for opening and closing the bucket. United States patent No. 3,934,917
to PAXTON issued January 27, 1976 teaches a clamshell bucket device attached to a
25 suspended cable. The bucket includes two bowl halves that open and close by a pulley
system permitting the movement of dirt. These buckets are designed to grab large portions

CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


of dirt material at one time. While they are able to capture and move large rocks, they do
not have the advantage of an adequate means of separating the rocks from the other rubble.
Other rock picking devices for attachment to implements have been made. United
States patent No. Patent 3,643,821 issued to VIEL February 22, 1972 discloses a
5 hydraulically tiltable rock picker attachment that can be mounted on a suitable vehicle such
as a tractor. The invention teaches a series of L-shaped forks aligned parallel to one
another and attached to a pivotally mounted crossbar. United States patent No. 5,027,906
issued to JEANNOTTE July 2, 1991 shows a rock picker attachment pivotally mounted to
the side of a conventional front loader bucket. The rock picker portion includes a series
10 of L-shaped forks hydraulically movable. The foregoing inventions are adapted to attach
to other farm implements such as a bucket or stacker loader. The utility of these inventions
is decreased as neither uses means other than forward motion of the vehicle to gather rocks.
Neither are they designed to dig into the upper surface of the soil to root out rocks and
separate them from other debris. These factors reduce the utility of the inventions.
Other rock picking devices use a conveyor system built on a frame. United Statespatent No. 4,113,023 issued to BASKETT September 12, 1978 shows a rock picker
attached to a bucket. The rock picker portion includes ratable shafts having rake teeth
mounted thereon and meshed together. The shafts rotate along a vertical axis moving rocks
along the teeth where they are sifted and sorted. The primary limitation of this kind of
20 rock picker relates to its ability to handle large rocks and the adequacy of the rake teeth
mechanism to pick them up and advance them to the bucket.
United States patent No. 5,141,058 issued to HEPPNER on August 25, 1992 seeks
to address this problem by improving a prior rock picking device. This invention discloses
a rock picker including a conveyor mounted on a frame with a member extending forward
25 and upward to engage large rocks preventing their j~mming as they progress up the
conveyor. The ability of a rock picker to capture large rocks would be enhanced either by
use of an independently rotating reel or allowing the large rocks to directly access the
bucket without using the conveyor mech~ni.~m.
United States patent No. 5,310,008 issued to DAUVIN on May 10, 1994 shows a
30 wheel mounted rock picking grate. The grate includes a plurality of bars aligned in parallel


CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


across the grate for eng~ging rocks swept onto the grate and into the hopper by a reel. The
reel consists of a series of bars with teeth mounted on an axle designed to ratably move the
rocks and debris across the grate. The action of the reel, however, could be improved if
the teeth could be extended outward and downward between grate bars used to loosen the
5 soil surface. Overall ability of a rock picking device to gather separated rocks would be
enhanced if rocks are deposited directly into the bucket without entry into an extended
grating system where rocks can jam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention is a device that can be mounted on loaders or tractors forpicking and separating rocks from soil admixtures. Rocks are separated through a grate
into a bucket by action of a reel and sweep member propelling material on to the grate as
the vehicle moves forward. Larger rocks can be gathered independent of the reel and
sweep by opening the mouth of the attachment and picking the rock by grapple or claim
1 5 action.
One object of the invention is to devise a reasonably priced and affordable rockpicker attachment. This attachment permits the operator to pick up rocks or objects of
similar size such as plastic jugs, bricks, or cement blocks.
A further objective of this invention is to create a rock picking attachment that can
be used on a variety of vehicles such as skid loaders, articulated loaders and bi-directional
loaders.
Another object is to make a rock picker that can be used in fields with planted crops
by designing it to accommodate and not harm rows of planted product when the apparatus
lS used.
A further objective of this invention is to build a rock picker that avoids using a
complex system of grating and thereby avoids potential rock j:~mming problems.
Another object is to make a rock picker that is able to separate rocks *om smaller
rubble and to easily handle large rocks once they have been separated.

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One object of this invention is to design a rock picking system lltilizing a reel that
preserves excellent vision for the operator and maintains unlimited vision of the bucket, and
utilizes a safety shield to protect the operator.
Another object of this invention is to make a reel with the ability to reverse itself
Sso as to throw off dirt from the sweep grid when digging out embedded rock.
A further object of this invention is to create a mount system that involves minim~l
hose connections and is adaptable to different loaders.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth
in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled
10in the art upon ex~min~tion of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.
The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the
instrumentality's and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages
are attained by removably attaching a rock picking device to any of a variety of primary
15moving vehicles such as loaders or tractors. The rock picker is composed of a bucket
pivotally attached to a carriage on which a reel is mounted. Rocks are separated from soil
admixtures into a bucket through a grid by action of a reel and sweep member as the
vehicle moves forward. Larger rocks can be gathered independent of the reel and sweep
by opening the mouth of the attachment and picking the rock by grapple or claim action.
20The bucket is of a size sufficient to hold rocks and should be adaptable to mounting
on the primary moving vehicle. The bucket is defined by a back plate and a base plate
spaced from bucket sidewalls. The base plate includes an overlying grate with elongated
tubular steel bars spaced a given distance permitting the separation of dirt and debris from
rocks. The strength of the bucket is reinforced by base supports or by a centre support
25brace.
The bucket is pivotally joined to a carriage by a mounting bracket. The carriageincludes sidewalls with mounting pin openings spaced from one another. The bucket and
carriage interface with one another at the sidewalls. The mounting pin openings hold a reel
that pivotally rotates in a sweeping fashion.

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The reel includes a shaft with mounting pins that fit in the mounting pin openings
permitting the reel to rotate. The reel also includes at least one crossbar attached with a
bracket having teeth. Angle leg members attached to the mounting pins can be used to
attach directly to the tooth bracket in lieu of the centre shaft affording better visibility of
5 the centre area of the rock picker for the operator. The reel is mounted directly on the
bucket in one configuration or on the carriage if grappling action structure is desired.
The carriage includes an angular upper grate portion with steel bars functioning as
forks spaced from one another to separate rocks when the attachment is moved forward.
The reel is rotated by a hydraulic motor secured by a bracket to the carriage sidewalls. The
10 motor drives front and rear sprocket wheels by a chain that engages the mounting pins
permitting the motor to drive the reel.
The position of the bucket relative to the carriage can be adjusted by a hydraulic
means including two cylinders attached by turnbuckle to the lower outside of each bucket
sidewall and the upper outside of each carriage sidewall. The position of the bucket can
15 be expanded to a first open position to expel bucket contents or it can be contracted to a
second closed position to contain bucket contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention,
20 as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further
objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings
in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way
of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of
illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the
25 invention. Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example in
association with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is frontal left view of the rock picking attachment shown mounted on a
loader serving as the primary moving vehicle;

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Figure 2 is an exploded right frontal view of the rock picker showing the base
bucket separated from the carriage and pivoting reel. The hydraulic motor and roller chain
drive is shown attached to the carriage;
Figure 3 is a left frontal view of the rock picker mounted on a loader in the raised
position. The carriage and bucket are shown separated from one another by extension of
the side cylinders permitting the device to expel rock contents from the bucket;Figure 4 is a left frontal view of the rock picker mounted on a loader in the lowered
position. The carriage and bucket are shown separated from one another by extension of
the side cylinders permitting the device to gather rocks directly into the bucket; and
Figure 5 is a side view of the rock picker attachment shown mounted on the bucket
of a loader. The amplified view shows the hydraulic cylinder for separating the rock picker
bucket from the carriage. This view also shows the point of attachment of the reel to the
carriage and the hydraulic motor and chain sprocket assembly used to propel the reel in a
sweepmg mohon.
Figure 6 is a frontal left view of the rock picking attachment without the carriage
shown mounted on a loader serving as the primary moving vehicle.
Figure 7 is an exploded right frontal view of the rock picker showing the base
bucket and pivoting reel. The hydraulic motor and roller chain drive is shown attached to
the bucket.
Figure 8 is a left frontal view of the rock picker mounted on a loader in the raised
position. The bucket is shown dumping rock contents from the bucket.
Figure 9 is a left frontal view of the rock picker mounted on a loader in the lowered
position. The bucket is shown gathering rocks.
Figure 10 is a side view of the rock picker attachment shown mounted on the bucket
25 of a loader. The amplified view shows the reel sweeping a rock into the bucket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
The rock picking apparatus including improvements is illustrated in Figures 1
through 5 and will now be described in detail. The rock picking apparatus 1 is shown
30 generally in Figure 1 attached to a wheeled vehicle 5 such as a loader. The rock picking


CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


apparatus can be removably attached to an assortment of primary moving vehicles including
skid loaders, articulated loaders, and bi-directional loaders. The rock picking device is an
attachment that is preferably made of a hardened or resistant steel material.
The rock picker is designed with several embodiments possible. The device can beconstructed with the clam shell action grappling feature as shown in Figures 1 through 5.
A reel 60 sweeps rocks into a bucket 20 while the vehicle forwardly advances. The
grappling feature requires that the bucket 20 be in an operative relationship with a carriage
40 defining the grappling structure. The most preferred embodiment is shown in Figures
6 through 10 and includes the sweeping feature of the invention together with an enlarged
10 bucket. This structure does not utilize the grappling feature.
The configuration of the grappling mode is illustrated in Figures 2 through 4.
Figure 2 shows the rock picking attachment in an exploded view. The apparatus includes
a bucket 20 that is able to hold rocks. The bucket should preferably be of sufficient size
and durability to accommodate rocks up to 22 inches in diameter. The bucket must be
15 adaptable to mounting on the primary moving vehicle. One embodiment of this is where
the bucket attaches directly to the arms of a loading vehicle. A second embodiment is
shown in Figure 5 where the bucket is mounted on another attachment on the primary
moving vehicle.
The bucket 20is shown in Figure 2 and is defined by a back plate 23 a base plate20 21 and bucket sidewalls 28 and 29. The sidewalls are spaced a substantially equal distance
and parallel to one another between the back plate creating the inner area of the bucket.
The bucket is constructed of hardened steel. The back plate 23is angularly shaped in the
preferred embodiment so that the depth of the base is greater than the depth at the top
portion of the bucket as shown in Figure 5. This permits the attachment to hold a
25 maximum load without allowing contents to fall over the back while the bucket is in the
raised position. The back plate 23 should also be angled slightly forward when the bucket
is resting on the ground.
Figure 7 shows a larger bucket 20 in the most preferred embodiment. This larger
design of the bucket permits the reel 40 to mount thereon. This is shown in Figures 8 and

CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


9. This design also includes a protective operator shield 15. The protective shield feature
can also be used on the grappling embodiment.
Figure 2 shows the base plate 21 with an overlying grate 70 portion that is designed
to protect and reinforce the bottom of the bucket from excessive wear and tear. The
5 preferred embodiment includes a plurality of lower spaced elongated tubular steel bars 72
spaced substantially parallel to one another. In addition to protecting the base plate 21 of
the bucket from harm when rocks and other material are gathered, the bars allow some
limited separation of dirt and debris from rocks. The bars 72 can be welded to the base
plate of the bucket.
The bucket also includes at least one base support and, preferably, two base supports
26 and 27. These supports reinforcably attach the base plate 21 to the back plate 23. The
base supports increase the strength of the lower bucket structure by providing a point of
attachment between the base and back plates. The supports reside within a groove cut to
a given length and width in the two plates and are welded therein. This greatly increases
15 the ability of the bucket to remain intact when bearing the weight of sizable loads of rock
and other material over a period of time.
The most preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 7, where the angular upper grate
80 is mounted at the front base portion of the bucket 20. The grate is similar to the grate
mounted on the carriage 40. One difference is that the grate forks are mounted on a centre
20 support brace 10 that extends in an upward angular direction toward the rear of the bucket.
The centre support then curves downward while the machine is moving. The centre
support attaches to the baseplate reinforcing the bucket.
Figure 2 also shows a bracket 22 mounted horizontally across the top of the bucket
being of adequate size and strength to pivotally attach the bucket to a carriage 40. The
25 preferred means of securing the bracket to the bucket is welding a tubular bracket across
the top portion of the back plate and joining the ends to each of the respective sidewalls
28 and 29 by rivet or by using hardware.
The bracket 22 is designed to pivotally join the bucket 20 to the carriage 40 so that
the two are in an operative relationship. The bracket is turned up at each end and includes
openings through which locking bolts 24 and 25 can pass through. The carriage 40


CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


includes arm extension portions 43 and 45 that each include respective bucket mount
openings 47 and 48. The locking bolts 24 and 25 adjustably extend through the bucket
mount openings 47 and 48 permitting the carriage to pivotally mount on the bucket.
The carriage 40 itself includes reinforced sidewalls 42 and 44 spaced from one
5 another by a back wall 49. The width of the sidewalls of both the bucket 20 and carriage
are substantially equal so that the edges of the bucket and carriage sidewalls interface with
one another. The carriage also includes a bottom base portion 41 and a top carriage
bracket 46 attached respectively to the end of each sidewall.
The carriage sidewalls 42 and 44 each also include mounting pin openings 58 and
10 59 sized to hold a reel 60 that can pivotally rotate in a sweeping fashion. Two kinds of
reel mounting designs can be used with the rock picking apparatus each having distinct
advantages. The first design includes a reel with a centre shaft portion 62 that has
mounting pins 68 and 69 extending from each end of the shaft. The centre shaft forms a
horizontal axis about which the reel is able to turn. This design permits the use of
15 reinforcing crossbars to strengthen the reel as described below.
The second design replaces the centre shaft portion with right and left angle leg
members 92 and 94. These leg members also have mounting pins 68 and 69 projecting
from the side of each member. The benefit of this embodiment is that visibility for the
operator is increased by elimin~ting the centre shaft so that person can better see into the
20 bucket area and more quickly react to rocks j~mming or other problems that may develop.
The mounting pins have a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the respective
mounting pin openings so that the reel 60 can freely rotate about the axis formed when the
pins are extended through the openings. The shaft 62 or leg members 92 and 94 are
fixedly held in a horizontal position by opposing pin clamp assemblies 55 and 56 on each
25 sidewall as is shown in Figures 1 and 5. The pin clamp assemblies each include a bracket
with an opening, each bracket being bolted to one of the sidewalls. Each bracket has an
opening large enough to receive the mounting pins on each end of the shaft so that the
mounting pins are held in place.
The reel also includes at least one crossbar 63 in the first design having a first end
30 attached to and intersecting the shaft 62 at a substantially perpendicular angle. The second


CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


end of each crossbar attaches to a tooth bracket 64 or 65. Each tooth bracket 64 and 65
includes a plurality of teeth 66 and 67. The crossbar can be used in the second design only
if more than one tooth bracket is used and the crossbars must be joined at each end directly
to each tooth bracket.
The preferred embodiment of the first design includes a plurality of crossbars,
preferably two, attached to the same tooth bracket on the second end, each crossbar being
spaced from and substantially parallel to one another. The most preferred embodiment
includes opposing upper and lower crossbars extending from the shaft at 180 degree
intervals. The upper crossbars are attached to an upper tooth bracket 64 at the second end
10 and the lower crossbars are attached to a lower tooth bracket 65 at the second end.
Figure 6 shows one embodiment of the second design of the invention that includes
a single bar reel. The single bar reel 90 configuration is mounted on right and left angle
leg members 92 and 94. The upper end of the right and left angle leg members arepivotally mounted by the mounting pins 68 and 69. A tooth bracket 64 having a plurality
15 of teeth 67 is attached to the respective ends of the mounting legs opposing the end
proximal to the mounting pins. The single bar would be lighter and would increase the
field of visibility due to the absence of the second bar. The speed of rotation of this
embodiment should be approximately 35 rotations per minute.
The teeth 66, 67 extend outwardly from the tooth brackets 64, 65. The sweeping
20 action of the reel is most efficient in gathering rocks if the teeth extend at an upward angle
a along a horizontal plane from the bracket, as shown in Figure 5. The teeth extend at an
angle a of approximately 50 to 55 degrees in the most preferred embodiment.
The rock picking apparatus used in the single bar reel configuration can discharge
the contents by placing the single bar real 90 180~ from the grate forks 82 eng:~ging
25 position. This position removes the tooth bracket 65 and the teeth 67 to allow material to
be discharged by tipping the rock picking apparatus forward and dumping the material on
the ground. This is shown in Figure 9 in the embodiment lltili~ing only the bucket. The
reel mounts to the bucket 20 in the most preferred embodiment. The mounting assembly
is essentially the same whether the reel mounts to the carriage 40 or to the bucket 20.



CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


The carriage 40 includes an angular upper grate portion 80 that can be lowered to
touch the ground surface. The grate here is comprised of a number of elongated steel grate
forks 82 functioning as forks spaced from and substantially parallel to one another. The
bars are spaced from one another a distance sufficient to separate rocks over a given size
S from other material of smaller size when the attachment is moved forward. The bars are
angularly mounted on at least one carriage base bracket 84. The teeth 66 and 67 are offset
from the upper grate forks so that teeth can pass between the forks when the reel is rotated.
Grate bracket angled back plate 81 is mounted to the bucket 20 end of the grate forks 82
communicating with the bucket base plate 21.
The invention also includes a motive means for rotating the reel in a sweeping
manner about the carriage to gather rocks and debris. The preferred motive means includes
a hydraulic motor 50 secured on a motor mount bracket 51 attached to the top carriage
bracket 46 on one of the carriage sidewalls 42. The motor 50 drives a rear sprocket wheel
52 that is in an operative relationship with a front sprocket wheel 54 being driven by a
15 chain 53. The front sprocket wheel 54 includes means for eng~ging one of the mounting
pins 69. In the preferred embodiment the sprocket wheel 54 engages the mounting pin
clamp assembly 56. The chain is looped about the wheels 52 and 54 permitting the motor
to drive the reel.
figure 7 shows the drive mechanism mounted on the bucket 20 in the most preferred
20 embodiment. The design of the chain drive assembly is the same whether it is mounted
on the carriage or the bucket. The bucket must be slightly larger on the most preferred
embodiment to accommodate the reel mounting.
The position of the bucket relative to the carriage can be adjusted by a hydraulic
means. The position of the bucket can be expanded to a first open position to expel bucket
25 contents or it can be contracted to a second closed position to contain bucket contents.
This may be done remotely by an operator.
The hydraulic means includes a hydraulic cylinder 30 and 34 on each side of device.
In the preferred embodiment each cylinder is fixedly attached on its lower end to the
outside of each bucket sidewall 28 and 29 by bucket mounting brackets 31 and 35. The

CA 0219878~ 1997-04-24


upper end of each cylinder is fixedly attached to the outside of each carriage sidewall 42
and 44 by carriage mounting brackets 38 and 39.
Each cylinder 30 and 34is engaged with each lower bucket mounting bracket 31
and 35 and upper carriage mounting bracket 38 and 39 by an upper turnbuckle 33 and 37
5 and lower turnbuckle 32 and 36 assembly on each end. The hydraulic cylinder can be
controlled by a remote operator. Expanding the cylinder permits the bucket to separate
from the carriage when moved to the first position. Contracting the cylinder brings the
bucket and carriage to a second closed position thus holding the two adjacent to one
another facilitating the containment of rocks.
Other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture ofthe apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the
accompanying claims.

Representative Drawing